New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-21
GENERAL BLACR'S METHODS.
SERVICE AND REWARD OF THE BIG FOUR
DISCHARGE or AN INNOCENT CLERK on SUSPICION

DISCHARGE OF AN INNOCENT CLERK On eooTAe'o1'
OF GIVING NEWS TO THE TRIBUNE.
rrRoM THE rEeuIA Ar CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, April 2O-The Physical Wreck is
a il gain IL never forcets and learns anything
Not long ago went around the country and tired 70
mako soldiers believe that 1t loved them. linen
returned to Washington, and cut tho hsads vi 'e'o'
in office OF fast it possibly could drew a"cn
ton to this a few DAYS ago. Since then the WrecA
has been badly demoralized. 1t turned tne rehS'on
Office upside dowa in its endeavor to ind the person
who furnished THE TRIBUNE with the iniornnuon.
Not succeeding In this it vented its wrath III
ways. OF course 1t denied in characteristic anu
misleading manner the truth OF my statements out
that was to be expected. There Is all ADMINISTRATOR
organ in this town which will print inythIhg' even
denial by Wreck" This being the case, VIII trY
to be explicit possible, giving names dates anu
figures which shall satisfy even General DiacA'
General Black, as l sad already, SCI 20 Woin
Immediately after the publication in THE TRIBUNE OF
his dongs, to ferret out how the Information oah"
from his bureau For week or more the lives VI 'no
pension clerks were made miserable by his threats auu
mutterings Then his vengeance descended upon AIeA
ander Wilson, clerk in the Pension Bureau Wiisoh -
suspected OF having given the information. VI couis1
nothing could be further from the truth. In ,acp
never knew oil the existence OF Wilson until nc was
discharged But he suspected by Generai p!aca,
and what was W )rse WllsOn a sodier-anu ioyai
sodier-which General Black regards "a serious
blemsh NOWADAYS. so he discharged Wilson. but ho
will 20 before army posts again, as nc oiu oeioo,
wipe stray tear from mis- eye and protest MS ae'o''o
to the veterans with his hand upon bis heart' l
wonder what explanation he would MAKE were no
confronted by some at these meetings Win ,no
OF the crippled Veterans whom ne nus us
charged and replaced by unrepentaat reoeis.
OF course prosecuting, rs he does, those "ho a'o
offensive to him. it becomes equally necessary ioi nm
TO reward those who help his nefarlous schemes
There is quartet in the Pension Ohice-and pretty
quartet it must be-devoted to General BLACK anu
beloved by him. 1t is composed oil " Lou hl pausu,
I. A. Broadus Samuel r. Horsey aud Captain DIZZY
Smith These sometimes also known a. the Dig
Four " of the Pension Bureau Tney have naos 'honi
selves indisI ems able to tho wreck" Wheh 1ener"
Black launched his ridiculous charges against MS pre-
decessor Office, and made them part OF MS annual
re port, without having scna OF PROOF 10 suoslan
tate Ihem the Big Four" came to his rescue anu W
rummagng the files OF the office succeeded III 9rlna
ing forth some exceedingly lame cases. iney Eiaycu
upon the creduity OF the Wreck ny teliing MN o
other yet to be found, winch would ehuoo nm "
come out OF the investigation with flying colors as IL
were. i, Ill
| General Black rose to this, swallowing bob, nook
and sinker In fine style For months the pig our
| acted as a sort of smelling committee. ihcir us
coyeries," as everybody knows amounted 10 hotnins
bat IL became necessary that thcir eu1t's II aa
rewarded, and that tneir brother clerks shouid SEQ
| hos Loyalty to the chief would be recompehseu %
! the " Big Foui were advanced from %l.4oo clerk,
ships TO positions where they draw now hom tno
| Government 81 500 and ~ 900 year. These promo,
tons we're made without any regard TO the ntness VI
those promoted except that they had assisted 1ener
| bOl<terlug
| against ex- Commissioner Dudley. , r,,,
There IL still another worldly whom the fhy sea- nn
| Wreck picked out Tor promotion from a TI'fVoo
| clerk shJ 10 one OF 81 500. l refer to John ID:
| Peyton This Mr. Peyton filled the ear OF
Ceuoral Black with a lot OF Islander when ne PAD
| nursed into existence while employed under the
Republican re zine. He wrote letter probably ne
| was requested TO do 70 In which he says that ne
conld find only twenty-eight Democrats in othce when
General Black assumed charge OF the BUREAU anu 10
| added: =. ,>...
| "Whilst am able TO find twenty-eight Democrats
now | am confident that before the last Presidental
election could not have found five nor any one else
! Tor that matter-who were avowed Democrats IN "A
total of 1 800 clerks. and not one who wouid nave
been willing TO have mis- go to tho Commissioners
| of Pensions Mr. Dudley, as such. And yet they arc
| all stanch Democrats and the tact CT their having
been discreet under the existing circumstances should
| not initiate against them now.
| Mr. Dudley could not prevent CIvl service De'no-
Gratis entering his Office but he could and ana turn
thom our after they got in. because OF their political
| statns-a TACT easily proven beyond Reasonable
doubt" .,,, -,
The pcrncious activity and offensive partisanship OF
,bi d.ciple n reform char acterIstcay rewarded
by his promotion. need hardly add that he Is not
| soldier. ., -.
| A Re7 Mr.. Turner a coored man, who served as
| messeneer I'm the Pension Bureau Was dismissed by
| General Black the day after Recorder Irotters con
| drmation lie had committed the indiscreton OF
wiring letter urL ing the confirmation oil lrotter
appuntment. Tho wickedness OF writing sucn letter
nppears enormous when compared with the harmless
| INTERPRETATIONS OF Mr.. Peyton.